President Todd J. Williams’ Blog

This week the University is very quiet. Today is the last day before the staff break. It’s hard to believe it’s Christmas already. It’s hard to believe that in just a few days it will be 2009. What will the New Year hold? What challenges will we face as individuals, as a church, as a nation? What joys and sorrows will we experience? What changes will our life courses take? Where will we be this time next year? Some people find this overwhelming, but I love the prospect of a new horizon, the adventures of a new trail. That’s life. And life is a great gift from God, not be squandered or taken for granted. It is to be lived, - unto God. So as we celebrate Christmas I like to remember that it wasn’t an end in itself, that the manger points to the cross, that the “fullness of time� in punctuated by the empty tomb. The Word was made flesh, Christ was born of the virgin, lived, taught, died, and rose again that we might experience God’s forgiveness through His atoning sacrifice and have life and have it abundantly, - regardless of our circumstances, - regardless of the uncertainties of the year ahead. So Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Posted by Todd J. Williams, Ph.D at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week is final exam week and Saturday is our mid-year graduation ceremony. Many students will be leaving us for the next leg in their life journey. They are going to receive their degrees and diplomas and move on. It's my great privilege to shake hands with each grad and wish them well. I enjoy the ceremony very much but it is bittersweet. It's a celebration of what has been accomplished, but it also means goodbye. The thing that keeps me smiling at this time of year is that while one semester ends, the next one is right around the corner and all the promise and potential of another round will soon be upon us. This year there is one change though. J-term. From January 5-16 students will be able to take courses before the next full semester begins. I am particularly excited about the new term because I am teaching Political Science, a course I taught when I was on faculty in the 90's. What a great year to have a JTerm and teach this course when all eyes are on Washington. The semester ends but ... I'm already excited for what's next.

Posted by Todd J. Williams, Ph.D at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)